Article Highlights:

• 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid ($23,650-$27,191)
• “2020 Green Car of the Year” – Green Car Journal
• “2021 Top Safety Pick” – IIHS
• 5-Star Overall Safety Rating – NHTSA
• Pro: The 2022 Corolla Hybrid knows how to stretch a gallon of gas. You definitely won’t be filling up very often.
• Con: The Corolla Hybrid is really slow and there’s not much in terms of options

If you’re looking for a hybrid car that doesn’t look funky, then the 2022 Toyota Corolla is a great choice. That’s not to say that its main rivals, the Honda Insight and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid look weird – they don’t. But that does mean that the Corolla Hybrid is a safe option if you’re looking to stay away from cars like the Prius, for example.

That being said, the Corolla Hybrid’s main draw is that it shares the same hybrid powertrain as its funky-looking stablemate but it looks more normal, like a Corolla. I spent a week in the 2022 Corolla Hybrid and was blown away by its stellar fuel efficiency, but underwhelmed by its lack of power. However, it did make up for that deficit in a couple of other areas.

Vehicle Make and Model:	2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid	2022 Hyundai Elantra Hybrid	2022 Honda Insight
Price as tested:	$27,191	$23,750 (starting MSRP)	$25,210 (starting MSRP)
Engine:	Gas/Electric Hybrid	Gas/Electric Hybrid	Gas/Electric Hybrid
Horsepower:	121	139	151
Torque:	105 lb-ft	N/A	197
Seating:	5	5	5
Fuel Economy (mpg):	52 city/53 highway/52 combined	49 city/52 highway	55 city/49 highway
Fuel Economy (as tested)	61 mpg (average)	N/A	N/A

Which Toyota Corolla Hybrid is best for you?

The good news (and bad news) is that the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid is solely offered in the base LE trim level. That’s good because buyers won’t have a tough time deciding which trim level or configuration is right for them. But it’s bad news for those that like to have more options available to them.

My tester was a Corolla Hybrid in Celestite Gray that was fully optioned with the Blind Spot  Monitor package and the Premium interior package.

The 2022 Corolla Hybrid looks… like a Corolla

Take a look at any new Toyota Corolla on the road and any one of them could be a hybrid model. That’s because Toyota didn’t do much to differentiate the Corolla Hybrid from its gas-only sedan stablemate – save for a “hybrid” badge on the back and blue Toyota emblems. Otherwise, this eco-friendly sedan comes standard with LED head and taillights, in addition to a set of 15-inch steel wheels with full wheel covers. Unfortunately, alloy wheels are not an option.

The Corolla Hybrid’s interior is comfortable and easy-to-navigate

When sitting inside the 2022 Corolla Hybrid, you’ll find that the seats are rather plush and comfortable for a compact sedan. Check the box for the Premium Interior package and you’ll get the available SoftTex leather interior and power-adjustable driver’s seats, which really spruces up the cabin. Otherwise, there’s a large eight-inch touchscreen that sits front and center on the dash and the HVAC controls are underneath it, which are easy to navigate and use while driving.

The Corolla Hybrid comes standard with the features that most will need

While it’s easy to look down on the Corolla Hybrid for not having any higher trim levels, the bright side is that it comes standard with the bare minimum that nearly any driver will need. The most notable features include a push-button start, keyless entry, auto climate control, and an eight-inch infotainment system. Apple Carplay and Android Auto phone integration are standard as is Bluetooth, Amazon Alexa compatibility, and even WiFi.

If you’re looking for options, then the Corolla Hybrid can be outfitted with a Premium Interior Package for $1,525. That package includes a SofTex leather interior, heated front seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, and a power-adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar support.

If you really want to spice things up, then you can also opt for the Blind Spot Monitoring package that includes a rear-traffic alert for an extra $500. Unfortunately, a JBL premium sound system is not offered, although the standard six-speaker audio system is adequate for the daily drive.

The Toyota Corolla Hybrid handles as well as you think it does

The 2022 Corolla Hybrid is a compact sedan that’s meant to go the extra mile, literally. It’s definitely not meant for taking tight corners at speed, but I found out that you’ll be able to if needed. On my usual canyon driving test route, the Corolla Hybrid made it through the corners well and I detected only a little body roll.

The suspension feels soft and compliant and the car’s multi-link rear suspension allows it to rotate around a corner well. That’s a good thing in the event of an emergency lane change maneuver, but not so much if you plan to autocross this car – which no one will.

Nonetheless, the Corolla feels stable and planted when driven normally and I detected a good amount of wind noise when driving on the highway. My decibel meter read an average of 80 decibels at around 65 mph, which means that it isn’t luxury-car quiet, but you can still carry on a conversation with your passengers.

As you can expect, the Corolla Hybrid is slow but highly fuel-efficient

When it comes to performance, you can expect the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid to get from 0 to 60 in about 7-10 business days. On a serious note, Car and Driver tested the Corolla Hybrid and reported that it takes 10.7 seconds to get to 60 mph from a standstill and 18 seconds to get through a quarter-mile. Fortunately, no one buying this car will be getting into any stoplight drag races, so let’s focus on the car’s high point: fuel economy.

The Corolla Hybrid is powered by the same 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine and electric motor setup as the Prius, so you know you can expect a lot of fuel savings. Speaking of which, the EPA estimates that the Corolla Hybrid can achieve up to 53 mpg in the city and 52 mpg on the highway. However, in my real-world testing, it trumped those numbers by averaging over 60 mpg in mixed driving situations at a mile-high elevation. According to the onboard computer, you can expect to achieve around 600 miles (or more) on a single tank of fuel.

Otherwise, it’s safe to say that the car’s 121 hp and 105 lb-ft of torque wasn’t hair-raising by any means, but it wasn’t painfully slow either. Highway merges and passing at speed took a little calculation in order to make it safely, but luckily, I didn’t find myself sweating behind the wheel and urging the car to go faster at any point. Additionally, the car’s electric motor made for easy acceleration from a dead stop, thanks to the motor’s instantaneous torque.

The Corolla Hybrid is as safe as can be

When it comes to safety, the Corolla Hybrid has everything you need. It comes standard with 10 airbags, high-strength body panels, and Toyota’s Safety Sense 2.0, which is the brand’s suite of driver-assist features.

Those features include adaptive cruise control, a lane departure warning, automatic high beams, and a pre-collision system with a pedestrian warning. On top of those safety features, the Corolla also received a five-star overall safety rating from NHTSA as well as a “Top Safety Pick” award from the IIHS, so you can rest assured that it’s as safe as can be.

The Toyota Corolla is cheap to maintain and comes with a lot of warranties

Toyotas, in general, have an exceptional reputation for being some of the most reliable cars on the road. As you can imagine, the Corolla Hybrid carries on this reputation proudly. Consumer Reports gave the 2022 Corolla a five out of five when it comes to “predicted reliability.” As far as actual costs go, Edmunds reports that it can cost owners an average of $4,054 for maintenance for the first five years of ownership and repairs come in at an estimated $744.

That’s pretty cheap, considering that covers five years. However, any new Corolla owners won’t have to worry too much about repairs since the car is covered by the brand’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty as well as a 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. The Corolla Hybrid’s drive system is also covered by its own 8-year/100,000-mile warranty and the hybrid battery itself is covered by a 10-year/150,000-mile warranty.

If you’re looking for a hybrid car, the 2022 Toyota Corolla is one of the best out there

While cars like the Honda Insight and Hyundai Elantra Hybrid are great in their own right, the 2022 Toyota Corolla offers a strong stance in the segment. Its astronomical fuel economy ratings are its main highlight, but the Corolla Hybrid’s redeeming qualities include its optional upgraded interior and sedan body style. If driving a Prius is not your style, then you need to take a look at the Corolla Hybrid.

MotorBiscuit gives the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid an expert rating of 7.4 out of 10

The editors at MotorBiscuit gave the 2022 Toyota Corolla Hybrid an overall expert rating of 7.4 out of 10. The Corolla Hybrid ups the ante in the fuel efficiency realm compared to its rivals in the segment. And while it is slow, the Corolla makes up for this slight deficit with its mature personality and a solid list of standard features.